well, you ARE "The Southern Conservative" after all! That guy would fit right in on Hollywood Blvd. When I lived and worked up there, I saw people that made that guy look like Pat Boone.
 

The look-at-me freakazoids complaining about being looked at when they adorn their skin with artwork? (although McDonald's pop culture iconography isn't MY idea of art, but, hey, it's a big world). What's wrong with that picture?
 

I used to live with a guy who was tatooed from the top of his head to his waist in a whorling pattern of black, red and turquoise. In Seattle, there isn't much that should surprise anyone anymore, but whenever we went for walks he got all kinds of stares and raised eyebrows. I understand that for most people who don't hang out with tatoo artists and such pretty exclusively probably don't get it, which isn't much of a news flash. None of us really understand where each other is coming from until we've dove into the everyday pith of another lifestyle. While this guy depicted in your post has chosen some pretty interesting tatoo content, I'm sure he has a reason that from his perspective is very valid.

Cube, getting a tatoo has very little to do with "look-at-me" syndrome. Likewise with getting pierced, dyeing your hair any manner of colors or wearing things that make people's eyes hurt. It's a matter of aesthetics, and personal expression. Complaining about getting negative press isn't new either, just look at the political party that you and Darrell embrace.
 

Meep: It's a matter of aesthetics, and personal expression.

Oh, horsesh!t. Are we really supposed to swallow that? A lot of people get tattoed, pierced, dyed, augmented, boob-jobbed, etc, to make no statement more complex than this one: LOOK AT ME! NOW!!. I've noticed that the trend is toward young white people who don't have a minority to identify with, so they get back at "the man" by turning themselves into freaks. It's a phase that most people go through. It's called "childhood." A lot of us grow out of it. Some of us don't.
 

yes, because you apparently now have insight into how everyone in the world views personal expression. Nice to judge someone from one photograph. I'm sure every picture of you is postcard perfect. Darrell, buddy, enjoyed some of your blog, definitely enjoy film geeks, but I think this is where I part ways with your personal blog.
 

Joe: Darrell, buddy, enjoyed some of your blog, definitely enjoy film geeks, but I think this is where I part ways with your personal blog.

Oh, how will I ever recover? I guess I'll press on somehow.
 

Wow, first of all, take a chill pill, both of you. Second, Darrell, I totally disagree with out about the all the facets of personal expression. I sincerely hope that when your children are busy trying on different adult personas, as you have so admitted in Wayfaring Strangers, that you will choose to be less judgemental of them than you are complete strangers.

To be more precise, for many getting large tatoos, its actually more about the pain and the subject matter than it is even about an expression of some kind. The endorphins really are addictive and the process of growing stronger and more confident through pain management is like a trial by fire. No don't tell me that is a foreign concept in your conservative religious doctrine.
 

Meepers: I sincerely hope that when your children are busy trying on different adult personas, as you have so admitted in Wayfaring Strangers, that you will choose to be less judgemental of them than you are complete strangers.

Well, like I said... childhood is a phase, and our kids are going through it now and will continue to do so. I do hope, though, that by the time they are tattooing age, they'll grow out of it.
 

"I've noticed that the trend is toward young white people who don't have a minority to identify with, so they get back at "the man" by turning themselves into freaks. It's a phase that most people go through. It's called "childhood." A lot of us grow out of it. Some of us don't."

So Darrell, in a way you're saying that my wife, who chose to get a couple of tats when she was past thirty, is a freak? Like Meepers said, It's a matter of aesthetics, and personal expression.. no horsesh!t at all.

BTW, I don't have any tats, piercings or hair color that I wasn't born with.. my conservative look is my own form of personal expression. But if someone wants to tattoo Ronald McDonald on their chest, what in the hell do I care? or YOU? and if you do, why does it bother you so much?

You don't need to answer those- they're rhetorical questions.
 

Dave: So Darrell, in a way you're saying that my wife, who chose to get a couple of tats when she was past thirty, is a freak?

Oh, holy crap.

Like Meepers said, It's a matter of aesthetics, and personal expression.. no horsesh!t at all.

Ok, ok, ok, ok. Whatever!

But if someone wants to tattoo Ronald McDonald on their chest, what in the hell do I care? or YOU? and if you do, why does it bother you so much?

I saw a picture of a guy who looked like a cross between Tom Waits and the singer from Stone Temple Pilots, wearing orange eyeshadow with all kinds of corporate food logos tatooed on him. I posted the picture and poked fun at the guy because I thought he looked really goofy. Next thing I know, the shitstorm of 2005 hits. Dear lord, people.

OK, I surrender. I give up. You're all right. Getting Ronald F'ing McDonnald and the other McDonnald land characters on your chest is the most perfectly f'ing normal thing in the world. A guy wearing orange eye shadow is totally commonplace. He doesn't look freaky, and he isn't trying to look freaky. He's trying to express his identity to the world, and his identity is someone who really f'ing likes Happy f'ing Meals. He's the most average looking guy I've ever seen, and not worth an aside on my part. I take it all back. I was wrong. I'd write more, but I'm on my way to gey the f'ing Hardees/Carl's Jr. Star tattooed on my f'ing forehead.
 

A tattoo convention is for people who are tattooed like this. This guy happens to be my husband and one of the most amazing and outgoing people i have ever met. Its harsh to say you dont dislike tattoos and then post this picture twice. People take so many pictures of him at different angles during conventions he could and most likely was looking off in a different dircetion. He has some of the most reconized work not only for its quality from ken lewis at kustom kens, goshen ohio, but he has been smart enough to stick to a theme. One in which is original. He often dresses quite normal and doesnt walk around showing poeple his amazing artwork by screaming LOOK AT ME- hes the every day husband and father- tattoo conventions are for artists and collectors so if you dont understand the industry i suggest not even saying anything about it. it makes someone look jealous and moronic to say things about a growning culture they know absolutly nothing about. He is an amazing human being with thousands of pictures taken of his art work and has been featured in lots of magazines nation wide. There is no harm in expressing yourself- to each his own i say. Post blogs about contraversial topics not people like my husband who walk around shirtless in tattoo conventions because he was entering his art work ( which wins alot of trophies) i would just like to know if anyone has even been to a tattoo convention or knows any small amout of detail about them....otherwise keep your minds more open and not so narrow. Its not like me or my husband would ever been lame enough to do this to someone.It shows how ignorant some people truely are. And if you know anything you would know that ignorance means exactly that "lack of knowledge" - go to BME or some other sites and see how crazy some people in the body modification world really are. read some articles there and maybe you will understand a little more. :)